• Clay Aiken hits the media circuit to promote "Measure of a Man" debut album

  October 13, 2003
  With American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut album getting released tomorrow, Tuesday, October 14, the media blitzkrieg has begun, and unless you live under a rock (or don't own a television) then odds are that you'll soon be seeing Clay appearing on a television near you.

• Vanessa Olivarez becomes third 'American Idol' finalist to reach Canadian Top 10

  October 9, 2003
  After Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, which American Idol 2 finalist would be most likely to have a Top 10 single? Would you believe ... the pink-haired Vanessa Olivarez, who was the first member of the FInal 12 to be eliminated ... and who was the only Idol 2 finalist excluded from the live tour?

• Simon Cowell proposes hybrid scripted-reality performance show to Fox

  October 8, 2003
  You have to admire the chutzpah of Simon Cowell, American Idol judge and Cupid executive producer. As part of Cowell's new contract, Fox gets first look at the next three show ideas from Cowell and his production company, simcow Ltd. The first one looks extremely familiar.

• Clay Aiken fights to keep sexual "edge" out of 'Measure of a Man' CD - and wins

  October 7, 2003
  Time magazine reports that American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken and his record label, RCA Records, battled continually during the making of his debut CD Measure of a Man over both content and career direction. Clay’s goal, to produce an album free from both sexual innuendo and “edge,” was strongly resisted by RCA executives led by label chairman and music industry legend Clive Davis. However, Clay's CD, scheduled for release on October 14, ultimately came out "clean" -- the way that Clay wanted it.

• 'Idol' singles sink, as Clay Aiken's album nears release amidst re-repackaging

  September 26, 2003
  Last week, the King of Rock and Roll rose from the dead to end American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's double-digit run at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Singles Sales charts in the U.S. and Canada. This week, another legend used a satanic twist to drive both Clay and Idol winner Ruben Studdard further away from the top.

• Clay Aiken's #1 streak comes to an end in both U.S. and Canada

  September 18, 2003
  It took a King to do it, but Clay Aiken's streak of weeks with the top selling single in either the U.S. or Canada on the Nielsen SoundScan charts has finally come to an end. Clay, the runner-up on American Idol 2, watched his platinum single, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night," drop to second on the U.S. Singles Sales chart and to third on the Canadian Singles Sales chart for the week ended Sept. 14, as the remixed Elvis Presley single "Rubberneckin'" jumped ahead of Clay on both charts upon its release.

• Clay Aiken logs 13th straight week atop Canada singles sales and 12th week in US

  September 12, 2003
  Is 13 unlucky? Nielsen SoundScan reports that American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night" has now spent 13 straight weeks atop the Canadian Singles Sales chart, placing #1 again in the week ended September 7. In addition, the single recorded its 12th week -- and second straight -- atop the U.S. SIngles Sales chart.

• New Clay Aiken 'Invisible' single to be issued by RCA as promo-only

  September 11, 2003
  Billboard reports that RCA Records has selected a second single for American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken ... but that the new single, "Invisible," will not be commercially relesed. Instead, like American Idol 1 winner Kelly Clarkson's second single, "Miss Independent," "Invisible" will be issued only in a promotional version for radio stations and other industry recipients.

• 'American Idol' finalist Kimberly Locke signs with Curb Records

  September 11, 2003
  Could the third time be a charm? Billboard reports that Kimberly Locke, who placed third on Fox's American Idol 2 this spring, will now become the third finalist to receive a recording contract. Kimberly has been signed by Nashville-based Curb Records and will once again compete with Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken ... although now the battle will shift to the marketplace.

• 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell says Clay Aiken's success due solely to choice of song

  September 10, 2003
  The sniping from American Idol judge Simon Cowell toward Idol runner-up Clay Aiken may have begun during American Idol 2, but it clearly isn't over yet. Entertainment Weekly (subscription required) reports that Simon dismisses Clay's chart success compared to Idol winner Ruben Studdard -- and even his platinum single -- as merely a consequence of Clay's decision to cover Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

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